Why Doesnt the Black Beauty Get enough Love

[Wildalaska]

See lots of paens to Aristocrats, Fat Boys, Slims et al, but hardly ever lots of love to the black Beauty.

Now I have been using one off and on for 40 years plus and always found it to be a great razor (I use it on 9), but are there any other fans here?

 

[Above The Tie]

One of my fav's inaddition I like the ones with the black base plate.

 

[Krona Kruiser]

I've been leaning towards the Black Beauty lately. Nice grip and ideal balance.
I'd say that it's not as popular because the quality of the mechanism isn't as "bullet proof" as the Slim and Fatboy. However, I've had a few and they haven't given me any trouble.
Very underrated razors.

 

[Wildalaska]

I've been leaning towards the Black Beauty lately. Nice grip and ideal balance.
I'd say that it's not as popular because the quality of the mechanism isn't as "bullet proof" as the Slim and Fatboy. However, I've had a few and they haven't given me any trouble.
Very underrated razors.

Bullet proof? Mine is 40 years old

 

[Zeppelinkarte]

Great razor. I have a black base plate model. Like the balance of the longer handle, the numbers are the large version and it shaves beautifully. As above, very underrated and very good. I received it in almost mint condition from a friend who knew I was into razors and had it laying around the house collecting dust.

Alongside a Ranger Tech for scale. I think there is a short handle version as well

 

[StuMcB]

Since March I've used nothing else but this baby. Pared with an FS finest and a soap stick, brilliant shaves. My Merkurs have taken a back seat as have my Gillette SS collection and slim. Apart from the odd daliance with a nice nickel re-plate 'D' slot Tech nothing else in the rotation at the moment. She goes with a shark SS set at 7. sweet.

 

[TheVez2]

These seem to be highly sought after. At least every time I try to bid on one, they go for well over what I want to pay for it. I have one and it is very nice, I'm just looking for a specific birthyear.

 

[Chester]

... are there any other fans here?

Why, yes. Yes, there are!
It's a lovely razor, and I get amazing shaves from it. I have so many razors that it doesn't get into rotation that often, but I think it's the worthy inheritor of the "slim" legacy. I actually remember seeing them on the pharmacy shelf maybe 20 years ago. (I wasn't into DE shaving then, though.) It's really a great first gillette or first adjustable gillette razor for someone new.
-- Chet

 

[chongo gordo]

I really like the look of the short handle version. I'm always outbid when a make a run at one on ebay. Seems they're plenty well-loved.

 

[5savages]

I just picked up this black beauty at an antique mall for $6. It didn't take much to clean it up. It's not mint by any means, but for my purposes it's perfect. The mechanism is very smooth. I look forward to trying this out

 

[gus1942]

See lots of paens to Aristocrats, Fat Boys, Slims et al, but hardly ever lots of love to the black Beauty.

Now I have been using one off and on for 40 years plus and always found it to be a great razor (I use it on 9), but are there any other fans here?

My favorite Gillette adjustable. I like the long handle and use it on 6.

 

[jkingrph]

I have one of those, at least I think that is it. Mine has the black baseplate, and lower twist part of handle is jet black, but upper part of handle is more of a burgandy color.

 

[elmerwood]

They get love in the BST, they're getting pricey.

 

[Slash McCoy]

A great alternative to the pricier Slim and FatBoy. The long handle is nice. Makes a good ladies' razor as well.

 

[IronHammer]

I have a beautiful gold and black super adjustable that I have been using daily for several months now. I have found I prefer it above nearly all my other razors (except maybe my 1953 President. Combined with an Astra SP I get perfectly amazing shaves! So, yes, there certainly are other fans of this razor!

 

[Toxic515]

I certainly love mine. HOWEVER, I cannot tell one bit of difference in the shaves between it and my slims... They're all good shaves.

 

[Sledgehammer39]

Out of the Gillette Adjustable razors, the Super Adjustable is my favorite.

 

[moe72]

This was one of the first Gillette razors that I've purchased. Have both the long and short handle versions and have had smooth and consistent results from both. A permanent part of my rotation for sure.

 

[Slash McCoy]

This was one of the first Gillette razors that I've purchased. Have both the long and short handle versions and have had smooth and consistent results from both. A permanent part of my rotation for sure.

My very first razor was a Super Adjustable. I seem to recall that it had the metal baseplate. I shaved with that for a couple of years before "upgrading" to the Trac II and shortly after that I grew and kept a full beard for about 20 years. The first razor I bought when I decided to shave was also a Super Adjustable but with the plastic baseplate. I found it hanging in a walgreens in the French Quarter and it had probably been hanging there for 15 years waiting for somebody to give it some love. It was certainly long out of production by then. I looked and looked for a DE razor until I found that one... by that time you could go to a drugstore and most clerks didn't even know what you were talking about when you asked if they had any Double Edge Safety Razors. So finding another Super Adjustable was kind of a time warp moment for me. Shortly thereafter I went to the straight but there was no B&B then and I kind of had to wing it so the learning process was a painful one, and I often reverted temporarily to the familiar comfort of the Gillette. Took about 6 months of perseverence to finally wean myself away from the DE.

I prefer, among DE razors, the Slim or the FB but I won't put down this razor that has taken care of me during two significant stages in my shaving career. My only beef is they should have made an all chrome one with no plastic, as an option. Either that or a long handle Slim.

 

[Wildalaska]

Mine has the metal baseplate. The one I started with 40 years ago did too